NEW ORLEANS -- Florida Gators assistant coach Chuck Heater said on Monday afternoon that he would like a "leadership position" next season, a strong indication that he is hoping to be promoted to defensive coordinator.

"I'm interested in having a leadership role, whatever it might be," Heater said. "I don't have to be a title or anything. I just want to be in a good room with a good exchange of ideas and good guys and that's what we've had since I've been here."

The Gators' safeties coach, Heater said after Florida's practice on Monday at the Louisiana Superdome that "chemistry ... is probably the most important part" of building a successful defensive staff. He also said "new ideas and perspective can be a good thing."

Heater said the possibility of co-defensive coordinators is an option. Florida assistant head coach Dan McCarney, the Gators' defensive line coach, said on Monday that he does not want to be UF's new defensive coordinator.

"We've been trying to find the right pieces to the defensive situation since Charlie has left and I've been involved with that in terms of that and the decision making, but we're just trying to get the best people because we can," Heater said. "We've done some really good things here but we're real anxious to bring in some other thoughts as well and we're not quite sure how it's going to all come together."

Florida safety Will Hill said on Monday that he hopes a current assistant coach, most likely Heater, is promoted to defensive coordinator.

"I would like to see someone from the team take over because he already knows the concepts and everything, so I wouldn't want to change up everything and shake things around," Hill said. "Coach Heater calls the plays up in the box, so you could say he's been running it for awhile. It would just be an easy transition."